Our veterans deserve better than VA’s ‘corrosive culture'

The Hill ^ | July 25, 2014 | Boustany

[April29]

Lewis-Payton admitted VISN 16 must work on “trust issues” with veterans and providers. Some of these individuals accuse VISN 16 of systematically gaming medical-record filing deadlines and leaving veterans with massive debts. When providers sent required medical records by certified mail, VA employees shredded them without explanation, insisting they were incomplete after the 90 day filing deadline had expired. As a result of this practice, one Louisiana veteran owes more than $22,000 and is being pursued by a collection agency. Lewis-Payton has not replied to questions about this case. In other cases, VISN 16 reportedly cited absurd reasons for leaving veterans new medical debts, insisting a patient with congestive heart failure and symptoms of a heart attack should have travelled more than two and a half hours for care at a VA facility instead of visiting his local hospital emergency room

[April29]

$22,000 in medical debt thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs

[driftdiver]

Sounds like a letter to his Congresscritter is warranted.

[driftdiver]

Well ya see he might not have survived the 2 1/2 hour drive to the VA hospital. Which is really their intent, because if he dies then they don’t have to provide care.

[hosepipe]

The entire federal givernment is FUBAR...

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Right on!!! HOWEVER, all too many Americans younger than we are DON’T know just what FUBAR means. A more concise word was never penned except——
For the very descriptive name I use on Free Republic. I think that is from a younger generation.

[blueunicorn6]

Those VA executives seem to have received their bonuses right away.

[huldah1776]

Instead of studying veterans for a cause in the rise of suicide rates maybe the VA should study itself.

[drypowder]

No, I repeat NO government employee should receive any bonus of any kind, ever and outlaw public employee unions. No one should be mandated to pay the unions (organized crime syndicate) just to be able to work in public service.

[Terry L Smith]

” insisting a patient with congestive heart failure and symptoms of a heart attack should have travelled more than two and a half hours for care at a VA facility instead of visiting his local hospital emergency room.”

This means that the VA was stating that the patient should have gone to VAMC HOUSTON, rather than go to a southwestern Louisiana hospital. The ride from Alexandria to Houston is, at best, 4 1/2 hours, not counting morning rush hour traffic.

The report was submitted by Congressman Boustany of LA.

[q_an_a]

in Bankruptcy the Dem team could close Pontiac and Saturn for not doing the job - selling enough cars. They closed Chrysler dealerships - what have the done to fix bad VA hospitals? I think this is a question to put to the MEDIA and all those who are trying to end government as we know it. Time to get on message who should fix government NOW dems or pubbies - new people that is who.